3y six in the evening. Nate had brought Zoe along to a formal dinner hosted by one of their partners.
He hadn’t seen me all day, and now, holding a glass of wine, his mind was somewhere else entirely.
Was I too harsh this time?
The thought hit him out of nowhere.
Nate pressed his lips together, then knocked back the entire glass.
He pulled out his phone, ready to text me-
But a senior executive from the hosting firm approached with a smile.
“Nate, about that proposal from last week…”
Nate blinked, snapped out of it, and switched into business mode.
He was fully engaged in the conversation when a chirpy voice cut through.
“Nate, this cupcake is sooo good!”
Zoe walked up, holding a frosted chocolate cupcake, eyes wide like an innocent kid at a birthday party.
The conversation screeched to a halt.
The men’s expressions soured instantly.
Zoe, completely oblivious, pushed right up next to Nate and held the cupcake near his face.
“You have to try this-”
Caught off guard, Nate turned, and bam-
Chocolate and whipped frosting smeared across his cheek and chin.
Zoe gasped and reached out to wipe it off.
Nate recoiled like she’d just tried to stab him.
“Enough!”
Zoe froze, her eyes immediately welling up with tears.
14:01
0
Screw You, Ex! My New Life’s Hotter Than Your Monevi
THEY RAY A
www the worm gearing banget bmw M NYING
* ftis on the proponam?
The others arvey chand in
kgoak, Fiv
And be that, Thay Saagar VA NA SY Buse
BAK CAN’T MY ty to stop them-
He www med ko
What we need to be a smooth vinage dianay And nature pulle
Thanive 16 //*
He GANI Want to Waba* how tnd Ale dionday would you frough the dissey
hd wwwhot, 64
from the half, in a comer, the Shww shook his hand and murayad,
“God, do you think state’s into some weird Kink or something?
The man was in his flors, Wont and onfivered.
Who knows, mafie that’s pret what young Drys are bar ANN?
Shew shook his head again, bathed
I mean, Sophia was hap
teren tai ke ibj ten i de’s Heater fom hind Minoj
Chapter &
“Smart, capable, and she actually understood social cres.*
Tve tried poaching her from Centurion more than once, but she wouldn’t budge
Chen gave a knowing smile but said nothing,
He’d tried poaching her too.
Meanwhile, back in the banquet hall, Nate glared at Zoe, his chest rising with every angry breath
“Zoe, look what you just did
Zoe’s eyes were red and glassy, like she was the one being wronged.
“What did I do?”
“I was just trying to share something sweet with you.”
“Is that a crime now?”
Her voice cracked as she started to sob.
People nearby began to glance over, curious and judgmental.
Nate clenched his jaw.
No matter how pissed he was, he couldn’t explode in front of everyone.
He swallowed it down, hard.
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s my fault.”
He shut his eyes, gripping his wine glass so tight it nearly shattered in his hand.
Zoe blinked, confused for a second–then broke into a smile,
Thinking he’d forgiven her.
She wiped her tears and threw her arms around him.
“Nate, you’re the best.”
Nate stared into the distance,
Kicking himself over and over for ever choosing someone this clueless just to prove a point
14:01
